Open your Bibles to the book of Acts.
Acts Chapter. 23 where we finished off and carry on from
where we finished off on Sunday. Verse 12.
Paul, remember, had that vision from the Lord.
We dealt with that in depth. In verse 11.
So in verse. 12 We pick it up. And it says and when it was day,
so the next day. Some of the Jews.
Banded together and bound themselves to an oath that they
would neither eat nor drink till they had.
Killed Paul. There's a.
Term for cheriff cherim. And so these.
Men, these 40 men have said we're not going to eat.
We're not going to drink until we kill Paul.
My. Question is because they didn't.
What happened to them? What happened to their oath?
But anyway. This is how serious they were.
And So what? We see the plan of how they're
going to do that do it, and they were more than 40 who had.
Formed this conspiracy. They came to the.
Chief priests and elders. And said we.
Have bound ourselves on a great oath.
That will eat nothing. Until we've killed Paul.
So this is the the great tragedy Jesus.
Remember wept over Jerusalem. And they were blind leaders of
the. Blind the religious leaders and
here. The killers, the assassins, go
to the religious heads of Israel and say, look.
We've got this plan. We're going to kill this guy.
We're not going to eat and drink.
And so you could just. See how deprived and how far
removed from God. Which is why.
Jesus said to them. You are of your father, the
devil. He wasn't.
Joking when he said.
That to them. As if we abandoned ourselves.
We're not going to eat or drink until we've killed Paul.
Now you, therefore, together with the Council, suggest to the
Commander. That he be brought down to you
tomorrow. So here's the Coalition.
You join in in the murder plot accessories to murder as though
you were going to make further inquiries concerning him.
Which is a lie. But we're ready to kill him
before he comes near, so. It's.
On the way you. Organise it.
Then on the way. The 40 of us will attack Paul
will kill him. So when?
Paul's sister's. Son, his nephew heard of the
ambition, he went and entered the.
Barracks and told Paul. Paul, remember, is under the
protection of Rome at this moment.
Actually, he's under the. Protection of.
God, and God is. Using Rome funny to.
Protect. The children of God.
By the occupants. Of Jerusalem from the.
Religious leaders of Jerusalem. And Paul called one of the
centuries to him and said, take this young man, he's my nephew
to the commander for he's something to tell you.
So he took him and brought him to the commander and said, Paul,
the prisoner called me to him, asked me to bring this young man
to you. He's got something to tell you.
Then the commander took him by the hand, went aside, went away
so no one can hear. He said, what is it?
What is it that you have to tell me?
And he said. The Jews have agreed to ask.
That you bring Paul down to the Council tomorrow.
As though because it's a lie. Though we're going to inquire
more fully about him, but do not yield to them.
Don't believe them, for more than 40 of them will be waiting
in ambush. Lie and wait for him.
Men who have bound themselves by an oath that they will neither
eat nor drink till they've killed him.
And now they're ready. They're waiting for the promise
from you. So the commander let the young
man depart, and he commanded him, Tell no one that you've
told me these things. And he called for two
centurions, saying, notice how? Paul.
Is going to leave. Jerusalem Prepare 200 soldiers,
70. Cavalry 200.
Spearman. So an.
Army of 470 Roman. Hard soldiers.
Are going to. Escort the safety of Paul out of
Jerusalem. You see, when God looks after
you, he really looks after. You and tell him and they're
going to. Go to Caesarea and.
We're going to leave. At the third.
Hour of the night. Provide mounts to sit.
Paul on. Bring him.
Safely to Felix the. Governor and he wrote.
This letter to Felix. In the following manner.
This is why we know the name of the commander.
Claudius Lyceus. To the most excellent Governor
Felix. Greetings.
This man was. Seized by the Jews and was about
to. Be killed by them coming with
the troops. I rescued him, having learned
that he was a Roman. Is that the truth?
Not. Quite.
Is it because it was they were arrested by the Romans because
there was a? Riot going on, Paul was.
Seized by the Romans. And then the Romans chained
Paul, and then they were going to remember.
With him. To get him to confess to the.
Crimes to find out. What's going on?
And Paul said as they'd change. You do know that I'm a Roman
citizen and everything went different?
So the letter has a little bit of licence to it.
Yeah, I rescued him. Having learned that he was a
Roman, we want to look. After our citizens.
And when I wanted to know the reason, they accused him.
I brought him. Before their counsel, I found
that he was accused concerning questions.
Of their law, religious. But I had nothing charged
against him. There were no criminal things
against him. Deserving of death or?
Chains when it was told me that the Jews lay and wait for the
man, this assassin party, I sent him immediately.
To you. And also commanded.
His accusers to state before you.
The charges against him? Farewell and the soldiers.
As they were commanded, took Paul and brought him by night to
Auntie Patras. Auntie Patras is on the.
Way to Caesarea. So it's a journey because the.
Danger. The Jews lived all the way up to
anti patras. And then from anti.
Patras on to Caesarea it was. Gentiles and it was lowland.
When we've driven up that way, it's lowland and once they get
to. Caesarea.
That's where all the Romans. Lived and hung out it was.
Going to be safe so This is why. We get the mention of anti.
Patras. The next day they left the
horsemen to go on with him and return to the.
Barracks. Why it's safe?
Now when they came to Caesarea and had delivered the letter to
the governor. They also presented Paul.
To him, when the governor had. Read it?
He asked. What province he was from and
when he understood that he was. From Cilicia.
Cilicia, where he is, is Turkey, modern Turkey, southern Turkey.
He said. I will hear you.
When your. Accusers also have come.
And commanded him to be kept in Herod's praetorium.
The word praetorium there means barracks.
He was also. The residence and the.
Palace associated there of where Felix lived in Caesarea, so from
chapter. 24 now. Covers a period of two years.
Yeah, I was saying to someone. We were talking previously about
our first port of call when we go to.
Israel, and I'm still hoping we can get there in January.
Is we leave. Where we're staying.
And we head off to Caesarea. That's our first pit stop.
And at Caesarea. There are these great.
Amphitheatres. There's a Herod's palace.
Down on the ocean. And there's a.
Hippodrome Hippodrome is a. Race course that they've.
You know. But you see it just absolutely.
Clean and everything. Caesarea was a safe.
Harbour. And to the right, there's these
lots of. Ruins like little.
Like Little. Walls.
And that's the prison where Paul stayed for these two years while
he was associated with Felix. Now Ananias, who's going to?
Head to Caesarea is very old at this time.
This is going to be a big journey for him, but he's still
going to head there. He hates Paul, but also.
Let's remember what is the passion that's driving ananias.
To get Paul killed, it's Satan. Satan is having this old.
Man who's? Supposed to be the high.
Priest. He's driving him and he's going
to. Put up with going this huge
distance 4045. I think it is. 65 kilometres
from Jerusalem to Caesarea to have Paul killed such.
As his passion and evil infatuation with Paul.
And so we read. Verse 24, chapter 24 Now after
five days, Ananias the. Old guy, the high.
Priest came down. With the elders.
They make the journey and they bring.
A certain. Orator named Tertulius now.
Tertulius is kind of like what we would call today a King's
council. You're talking the best.
Lawyer you can buy. This guy.
Was the one that defended everyone he was.
Had the. The knowledge and the way the.
Sway with his speech so they've. They've gone big guns.
They're not just going to roll. Up there and have.
Just anyone. No, they.
Brought a spokesperson. They brought what we would.
Call a king. 'S council to to get Paul
prosecuted, convicted and still killed.
They're serious. Top Gun lawyer and so when he
was called upon to Julius began his accusation saying notice
he's going to. Start off with these words.
Seeing. That through you, Felix.
By the way, Felix. Means a happy one, which is
quite strange. Because Felix was.
The only slave in Rome. Who was freed?
And then became a governor in the Roman Empire.
So. He was.
He went from. Slavery to being a governor.
And so it's always. Said that once a slave gets upon
the throne, he's going to rule. With great cruelty because.
He's going to go. You know what?
I've. Lived like a dog.
And now I'm the. Top dog and that's that would.
Sum up this person. Felix of what he's like So Paul.
To Julius is making his flowery speech.
Seeing that through you, Felix, we enjoy great peace.
No, they they hadn't. Felix has wiped out lots of Jews
in different different. Times, there's something blew up
here, something, and here we just go down and kill them all.
And prosperity is being brought to this nation by your
foresight. We accepted always and all
places, most noble Felix. With all thankfulness,
nevertheless. Not to be tedious to you any.
Further, I beg. You to hear.
By your courtesy, a few words from us so he's.
Laid it on. He's really gone to town.
And so this Top Gun. Lawyer is about to.
Try and have Paul. Really sought out.
We have found this man. A plague a creator of.
Dissension among all the. Jews, is that correct?
No. Throughout the world now what's
what, what this is, it's a it's a backhanded compliment because
Paul has. On his three missionary
journeys, he's taken the. Gospel throughout the world.
This is this is amazing without all the modern ways of
communication. Paul has taken the.
Gospel taught it, then those who've listened.
Have gone and the. Whole world as they.
Know it knows. About the resurrection of Jesus
Christ. And he's a ringleader.
And here's where the satanic attack is, through Ananias and
Tutulis. He's a ringleader.
Of the sect of the Nazarenes. You see, this is the core of the
problem thereafter. Jesus thereafter destroying the.
Spread of the Gospel. You know I don't don't.
Look at all the flowery stuff, the heart of the.
Problem is the problem of the heart.
He even tried to profane the temple.
Referring back to Paul, which he didn't.
And we seized him. Now they grabbed him.
And wanted to judge. Him according to our law, What
did they want to do? They weren't going to judge him
according to the law. They tried to kill him.
It was the. Romans who saved him, but the
commander and we must say. He didn't help.
Lyceus came by and with great violence.
Oh, as we're. Trying to kill Paul, he's become
very violent against us, took him out of our hands, commanding
his accusers to come to you. By examining from yourself him,
yourself, you may ascertain all these things of which we accuse
Him and the Jews. Also assented.
Maintaining that these things. Were so yeah, yeah, everything
that he said. Remember, he's the.
He's the. Spokesman.
Yeah, yeah. And what he says, they're all
yeah, yeah, yeah, what he said. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yes.
Yes, yes. So.
Paul is just standing there before the Roman governor Felix
then. Paul after the governor.
Had nodded to him to speak. Paul, your turn answered in as
much as I know that you have been for many years a.
Judge of this nation. I do the more cheerfully answer
for myself, because you may ascertain that it is no more
than. 12 days. Since I went to Jerusalem to
worship, all this has. Happened in 12 days and Paul's
telling. He's going to say.
This is what happened. Let.
Me tell you. 12 days ago I went to Jerusalem to worship.
In the temple, and they neither found me in the temple disputing
with anyone. I wasn't arguing.
With toss, I was actually there carrying out the.
Vows of Nazarene with some other men.
Who I'd sponsored. Nor inciting the crowd.
I didn't incite anything. I was.
Quietly going about my business, worshipping the Lord.
Either in the synagogue. Or in the city.
Nor can they. Prove the things which they now.
Accuse me. But this I confess.
You but here's here's what I am. Guilty of But according to the
way. And he?
This is Paul. He's.
Going to bring the gospel in, but let me tell.
You what? Really, I'm here for and he
brings. He brings Christ in, and that's
what you. And I have to look at.
Where is Jesus? In this situation.
Every time something comes up. We read in the.
Bible or or or we're. Involved in what?
You know there was a thing. WW What would Jesus do WJD these
bracelets that. Came out and things you.
What would Jesus do, I think? That's an outstanding way to
live when you're talking, when you're living, when you're
sharing. Often we, especially when we're
sharing. The Gospel with those that don't
know Christ. We think we have to come up with
all the answers, like where did Cain, you know?
Get his wife and you know. All this?
How many years is this? How old's the?
How old's the earth and all and. We have to come up with all the
answers. No, no, no.
We speak of Christ crucified. Jesus is the centre.
Of. All that we talk.
And think about and. Paul.
He's in on trial and he hasn't gone and by.
The way I wasn't. You know, doing.
This at the temple and I was this.
He doesn't. Bring out all this other stuff.
Remember, he's a very intelligent man, very educated
man. He could have flowered on.
He brings in the gospel. But I confess to you that
according to the way. Capital, which they call a sect.
And. Notice what he says.
I worship the God of my father's.
Who's the God of my father's, the Jews.
I worship the same God. And so right here, Paul.
Is making the statement. That the worshippers of the way,
the worshippers of Jesus Christ, are Jews worshipping truly the
God of the Jews in the right way.
That's what he said here. It's great theology.
Believing. All things which are.
Written in the law. And the prophets, because what
are all things that are? Written in the law.
And the prophets, they'd speak of Christ the Messiah.
The law can't save us. We need, we need saving.
The law tells us we're guilty, the prophets told.
Of the one who would come. And.
Free us from the. Guilt of which we're guilty of
which the law say we can't live the.
Law. Notice Paul's giving a lesson
here. I have hope.
In God, which they. Themselves also accept you.
You supposedly worship the God of the Jews.
That there will be. Notice now.
Now he brings in. What is the?
Sign an evil and adulterous generation seeketh.
After a sign, Jesus said. What is the sign?
I remember standing by and it's happened to me on a number of.
Occasions in my workplace and I'll be witnessing to a guy you
know. He's had to stand next to me so
I thought, no, he can't get away from me so I'll talk to him.
About the Lord. Anyway.
And he said. Well, if Jesus appeared now or
he did a sign that I'd probably believe.
The sign is the. Resurrection 3 days.
Three nights as. The prophet Jonah and so Paul.
Brings in. This is the sign and he says
also there will be a resurrection of the dead.
But he doesn't just stop there. Both of the just.
And the unjust. So Paul's bringing in here.
We're all going to face God the just who made right with God
through the resurrection of. Christ and the unjust.
Who rejected Jesus Christ for judgement, this being so.
I myself always strive to have a conscience.
Without offence toward God. And men, in other words, I live
my life sharing the. Gospel as I should, toward God
for God. And toward men?
What is that? Love the Lord your God with all
your heart. Mind, soul and strength, and
loved your neighbour. As yourself.
Paul's wrap that in here now. After many years, I came to
bring arms. This is why I came 12 days ago
to Jerusalem. I came bringing money.
To the church in Jerusalem who was struggling.
And offerings to my nation, in the midst of which some Jews
from. Asia, Turkey.
Remember the Bob that followed him from Turkey?
Found me purified. I'd gone through the role of the
Nazarene, sponsored four other. Men in the temple, neither with
a mob nor with tumult. He says if they saying I did
these things. Where are they?
Where? Where's the witnesses?
Come on. And you know the thing that Rome
does? Rome.
Goes by witnesses. And by the law, that's the thing
that Rome did bring in. Where are the witnesses?
They ought to have been here. Before you to object.
If they have anything against me, it's silent because there's
no one here because they can't say anything.
Or else let. Those who are here themselves
say if they found any wrongdoing.
OK, come on, tell me specifically Ananias and all
the. Other guys that have covered up
with him. Tell me specifically.
Where I where I did wrong? What I did wrong?
What I said wrong in me? While I stood before.
The Council, unless it is for this one statement, which I.
Cried out. Standing among them, and what
was? And Paul brings it right back,
the heart of the. Problem.
Problem the heart. It's all about Christ.
He says concerning the resurrection.
Of the dead. I am being judged.
By you this day. It's something we want to learn
from Paul here. We should never be timid, you
know, You know, And I had this. I had this.
Thought when I was a new believer, you know?
TV was a great. Thing to watch?
But it's terrible theology. Because you know when you watch.
All the old Cecil. B De Mille movies.
About. You know, the 10 commandments
and all that, all the Christians were always like yes, no and
they are always that way. And and I I really struggled.
When I became a. Christian to to not be anything
but that that. Kind of person.
That Christians now you just. You just wear grey clothes.
You you don't get out the sunset, you look.
Like you're dead. If someone tells a joke, you
don't laugh, because that's not that's not.
Godly and so and. That was the image.
That I had of what? Being a Christian was.
Trouble is, I hadn't read the Bible.
Because Paul is. Here he's saying, hey, if you're
accusing me and. Stuff.
What is it? Come on.
Where's the witnesses? Why aren't they?
Here and. You guys if you.
Accuse me of doing stuff and saying stuff.
Come on, let's let's get specific.
You see, we think. Christianity, we're always on
our back foot. Listen up in in the.
Workplaces that I've worked. In I've worked.
In both health largest. Government, department,
education and. Police, large government
departments. There has been no time when I
have. Played off the back.
Foot and gone. Oh yeah, I'm just a lovely
Christian. No, because you know.
The law talks about. Discrimination.
Oh, but. It's all about.
LGBT and and and and race. No, no, it's also about religion
and I use it. And I speak it.
And I've written it and I've. Approached.
Those who have been over me and said this goes against my.
Christian faith, I can't do this.
I can't have this. And and and and.
We kind of because what we're like the.
World and and Australia is used to getting Christians and just.
Like they're like. A bunch of little kittens, you
know, we just fluff them over into the corner because they'll
just shut up. They won't say anything And and
and and we're. We're so far flung.
From Robert McShane, who said. Give me Scotland or I'll die,
you know, we're we're so. Far flung flung from Dietrich
Bonhoeffer who took on the Nazis.
In a concentration camp. We're so far removed from that,
and we wonder. Why the?
Church is weak in. Australia, it's weak because
we're weak in our testimony. We cower, we we get.
Behind Well, no, we're not supposed to.
We're not supposed to be out like that.
There's a way to do things. There's a.
Way to do? Things and Paul knew the way,
and he's leading us and showing us.
The way to do things, he says. OK.
Let me tell you. Concerning the resurrection of
the dead, the reason why things aren't going.
Well, is because I'm a Christian in this workplace.
And that's the problem. If I'm a member of any other
religious. Sect.
You wouldn't. Be saying those things.
You'd be frightened, but because.
I'm a Christian. You just think carte blanche.
No one. Cares, Paul says.
The only reason I'm here? Is because of this.
Now when? Felix heard these things.
Having more accurate knowledge. Of the way, How did he have an
accurate knowledge of the way Paul's told him the way it's
about Christ. It's about judgement.
It's about the resurrection of the dead.
He adjourned the proceeding. And.
Said when Lyceus the. Commander comes down.
I will make a. Decision on your case.
So he commanded the centurion to keep.
Paul. And to let him.
Have liberty. Told me not to forbid any of his
friends. To provide or visit.
Him. Felix.
We're going to study him on Sunday.
Felix. Didn't need any more.
Evidence did he did. Pilot need more?
Evidence. What is truth?
He says, and he washed his hand. I'm I'm I'm innocent.
Of. Judging this innocent man, You,
you go and do you. Crucify.
Him. I wash my hands.
Here's the thing. And this is what Australians
kind of think they can do. And and and often.
Church goes. You can be neutral.
You can, you know, like, yeah, well, I'm easy, easy, you know,
I'm fool God, but I'm not, you know, back bad against good.
But I'm, I'm kind of neutral. There is no neutral ground in
your walk. With God or before God, there's
no. When Paul said there's.
Going to be a. Resurrection of the just and the
unjust, he didn't say. Oh, and there's a third lot.
And then the neutral ones, they're just going to be on a
little island having no part of anything.
No. Jesus said these words.
You are either. For me.
Or you are. Against me and you know, many
people say, well, I'm for. Jesus, are you are?
You really. Because being for Jesus means
you'll suffer tribulation because of him, because you're
living for him. And Felix was this radical guy.
When I look at him on Sunday, he married his.
Third wife. Drusilla, she was the.
Daughter of Herod Agrippa. The 1st and Felix arranged for
this marriage with the help of a magician, yes.
It's true. Called Atomus and he seduced.
Drusilla. Who was married to King?
The King of amnesia, now Paul. Is frightening, Felix.
And Felix is going to keep Paul in prison for two.
Years. Let me read on.
And after some days when Felix came with his wife.
Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul hurting
concerning the. Faith in Christ.
Wow, guess what? The more you hear, the more the.
Judgement rises against you. If you ignore it now, as he
reasoned. About righteousness, self
control and judgement to come. Felix was.
Afraid and answered. Go away for now.
When I've can have convenient time, I'll call for you.
Meanwhile, he also hoped that money would be given to him by
Paul. He's kind of hoping.
Well, Paul, just. You know, get it.
You brought an offer. I heard.
You brought an offering from. All of Asia to the.
Maybe you can get up a ransom and you know we can talk Turkey.
That's. What he was after as well.
He was corrupt, meanwhile. He also helped hoped.
That money could be. Raised by.
Paul that he might. Release him therefore.
He sent for him often and converse with him.
But after two years Porcius Festus succeeded Felix and Felix
wanted to do the Jews favour left Paul bound.
Couple of questions as we close two years, you kind of go and
would you? You kind of go.
Why does God allow Paul stay there for two years?
Isn't that a good question? I think it is.
He's in chains. Why would God allow Paul to be
there for two years? And have to go on back and forth
back and. Forth.
Man, he has given. Felix away.
Wasn't he showing him? Grace and grace and grace as he
did to Pharaoh. Two years in prison.
Why I think? For Paul, it was a.
Period of quietness. Paul had Paul had worked his
tail off. 3 missionary journeys. Everyone's trying to kill him.
Just recently, everyone's trying to kill him.
Wherever he went, this mob followed him, trying to kill
him, you know, and I think. God said you, Paul.
I want you to have a rest and. Caesarea is a beautiful spot, it
really is. Paul was going to have a period
of two years. Resting up, but why?
Was God. Resting his faithful servant.
Why does God give you a period of like rest?
Because he's going to prepare him.
He's preparing Paul for the times ahead, the things.
He's going to face. And what he's going to
eventually. Face is death.
It is said and we don't know who the.
Writer of the Hebrews is. No one can pin that for sure,
but it is said by many that. This is where Paul, while he was
accessory for two years, wrote the letter to the.
Hebrews And you know, it makes a lot of sense why?
Because Paul, in that time as he's dealt.
With the Jews who? Wonder went to the Christ and
they spoke about the law and the prophet and Paul's against the
temple. And Paul wrote this wonderful
masterpiece, I think, on Hebrews, which says.
This is what it was, this is what God gave you, but this is
what is far. Better in Christ.
He talked about the high priest, Jesus, our high priest.
He talks about the the priesthood of.
Aaron and and in Hebrews. He talks about the priesthood
of. Melchizedek and all of.
Grace and mercy that Jesus is the.
Sacrifice to end. All sacrifices and so you could
picture yourself. Perhaps going home this week and
reading Hebrews and think that. You're Paul, your Ancestoria.
You're there 2. Years and you're writing.
About what you wished your fellow Jews.
Would understand. Who Jesus is?
They believe that Paul. Didn't write it by hand, but.
It was Luke, Doctor Luke, who was allowed to.
Visit him dictated wrote it and Paul.
Dictated it to it. Father, we thank you.
For your for your word. Help us, Lord.
To realise our protection is in your hand, you had hundreds of
soldiers looking after. Paul his.
Time was not then and you were going to make.
Sure, his way. Was going to be in your way,
Lord and Father. We just ask for you to help us
in the time that we have to live.
And represent you. As did Paul that Jesus is the
Messiah that there is. Going to be a resurrection.
The Resurrection. Of the dead, the.
Just and the unjust. Oh.
Lord help us to. Use this time periods when we
are at risk to. Prepare for the battles that.
You have ahead. Of each of us.
This we pray in Jesus night. Amen.
Just to know you in my sweetest friend, my friend.